Backstage pass: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

When was the last time you got to feed an elephant? The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina, is the largest zoo in the Southeast, and it’s one of the few to let the public behind the curtain.

In an effort to educate, the Riverbanks Zoo has created a program called Back Stage that offers behind-the-scenes tours. There are five to choose from: You can prepare a snack for grizzlies, feed an elephant, get up close to penguins, pet a tortoise, or get onstage with sea lions. Tours happen on Saturdays and Sundays year-round.